Information

What is a Gi
A (GI) is the suit or uniform, karate students use to do karate.This can also be called a kimono.But this word is not used so often because a kimono is also a dress which japanese women wear on special occasions.This uniform consists of a white or black (depending on the belt) trouser and jacket.A Gi always has to be clean and ideally nicely ironed.This is a sign of respect to the Sensei and to the Dojo.

What does Sensei Mean?

Sensei is the japanese word given to the karate teacher or to your master.But this name can also be adressed to a doctor or a lawyer or even to a politician.The word sensei is also used to show respect to someone who has achieved a certain level of mastery in a martial art form or some other skill.Mostly sensei is also used to talk to an old master.This expression originally comes from buddhism.It was used a lot in buddhistic schools where children went to pray to buddha and they would call buddha their master (sensei).These buddhists were called shaolins and they where taught kung-fu.Buddhists would only use the skills they were taught in very dangerous situations and they always wanted to solve their problems using words and they hated violence.

What does Dojo meen?

Dojo is the japanese word for place of the way.This term can refer to a formal training place for any of the japanes Do arts.That just meens a place where any japanese martial art is practiced or taught.A dojo in europe is adressed most commonly to a training place,where exams or gradings take place and new belts or grades are awarded.In japan any physical training facility can be called dojos depending on their context.A japanese martial arts dojo is considered special and should therefore be treated with very much respect.It is a sign of respect to rey (take a bow) when a martial arts student enters the dojo or leaves the dojo.At the beggining of a lesson all the students and even the sensei (teacher) have to sit down and bow.This is to show that they are gratefull for having a place to train.In the past a dojo was also a very spiritual place where many people went to pray.In the past dojos where mainly built out of wood and they had special mats to prevent students from getting hurt when they fall.